Semitrailer



, INVENTOR ATTORNEYS C. H. -LAND, JR

SEMITRAILER Original Filed Feb. 8, 1924 Nov. 1a, 1923.

Nov. 13, 1-928.

C. H. LAND, JR

SEMITRAILER '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filgd Feb; 8, 1924 Nov. 13; 1928.

C. H. LAND, JR

SEMITRAILER 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 8, 1924 [Via/460" H[and /[1 4 M M M '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 W fZ/A M c. H. LAND, JR

SEMITRAILER I Original Filed Feb. 8, 1924 Nov. 13, 1928.-

Nov. 13, 1928.

Re. 17,132 c. H. LAND, JR

SEMITRAILER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Feb. 8, 1924 III. I WITLATTO R N EYJ C. H. LAND, JR

Nov. 13, 1928.

SEMI TRAILER Original Filed Feb. 8, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 lll|.|l|l| llllllll llhlI l W. E N R O T T A Reissued Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. LAND JR., OF'DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO'FRUEHAUF TRAILERCOMLPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Original No. 1,568,560, dated January 5, 1926, Serial No, 691,342, filedFebruary 8, 1924 reissue filed July' 21, 1926.

' This invention relates to semi-trailers. The subject matter of theinvention may be classified as follows:

Wheels are provided on the trailer frame near the front end for runningup the inclined approach to the horizontal tracks on the'truck when thetruck backs into the trailer, and means are provided for automaticallyraising these wheels off the horizontal portion of the tracks when thetrailer is in its final position on the tractor.

When the tractor backs into the semi-trailer, the latch hooks areautomatically positionedto engage withthe locking bar on the truck. Thisis accomplished by the supporting unit swinging from its forwardposition to a Vertical position during the travel on the truck tracks ofthe wheels on the front end of the trailer frame.

The construction of the automatic means for raising the supportingelement of the trailer when the truck drives into the trafiler involvesa newarrangement whereby the actuating connection. is near thefulcrumlof the swinging supporting element so that only a small amountof movement isrequired to lift the supporting element even if greaterpower is required, distance being considered more important here thanpower which is propor tionately large due to the heavy truck.

The brake which has been set in position prior to the time when thetruck backs into the trailer is automatically released by the truck atthe proper time.

When the truck starts out from under the trailer, it first draws thelegs into position and automatically locks them in this position beforethe uncoupling movement takes place. i

Provision is -made so that the truck can not uncouple from'the traileruntil the legs of. the supporting elements are locked in'their uprightposition, the uncoupling being prevented prior to the locking of saidlegs in position but allowed to uncouple subsequent- Mechanism isprovided which may be operated from the cab of truck for blocking anoverride brake mech ism to permit-backf ing without setting th brakes. f

The coupling-head involves new and novel devices, one of which'is anarrangement 1 release the locking pin located inf the" coug is backedentirely into the trailer. Fig. 13'i'sa longitudinal section Applicationin:

S.eria1.No. 124,080.

pling head from the strain incident to the momentum of the truck whenthe locking pin drops into place. I

There are other features of novelty, but this in a general waysummarizes the features to which the claims are directed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the trailer and the rear portion of the truckincluding the fifth wheel. The parts are shown before the truck has beencompletely uncoupled from the trailer.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same parts showing the parts in thesame position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section of the same parts. f

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the coupling head on thetrailer.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the trailer showing the brakeoperating connections. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig.1 showing the tripping lug 17 as it is when the sliding position.

Fig. 7 is a section taken 011 the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 Fig. 7

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a trailer and the fifth wheel part of thetruck, showing the trailer wheels as raised slightly off the trackcarried by the truck. Fig. 9 is a lon itudinal sectionthrough the Iforward part 0 the trailer when tractor is entirely away showing bydotted lines how the drop of the supporting legs serves to positionthe-latch hooks in the'path of the lock t 1s.an enlargedvlew of aportion of head is in its rearmost loops but before final coupling. Y v

the coupling 1 f:

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of head.

Fig. 1 1 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the trailer similar to Fig. 1, but showing thetrailer and the fifth wheel part of the truck after the truck er and therear part of the truck parts being omitted for clearness, "showing theparts in the act of coupling. I I

when in'positionffortransport as distin-f guished from Fig. 3 ,'whic'hshows the parts To;

ting the brake temporarily in the initial movement of uiicoupling.

The apparatus is somewhat diflicult to understand and follow due to thelarge number of relative changes that occur in performing the automaticfunctions outlined above. It is therefore thought that the easiest wayto approach and describe the matter is to describe the operation and theparts together. beginning with the truck acking into the semi-trai er.

In the plan view of the back of the truck shown in-Fig. 14, will be seenthe tracks a which are inclined as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the mannerset forth and claimed in the Pescatore Patent'No. 1,084,820. A pair ofbumper loops 1) (Figs. 2 and 3) are provided on the front of the trailerfor first striking the inclined track and taking the shock on thetrailer. As the inclined track backs further it strikes the rollers asupported on the bottom of the side sills of the trailer by the bracketsd. This, of course, reatly facilitates the truck running under t 1etrailer and lifting the same.

Refer to Fig. 9. When the truck has previously uncoupled itself from thetrailer, it has left the latch hooks e in the raised position shown bythe full lines and has the leg props inclined forwardly. However, assoon as the truck raises the trailer off the ground latch hooks'e. heldin their lifted position by reason of the by backin under it, theforwardly inclined legs f of the supporting element swing from the fullline position shown in Fig. 9 to the dotted line position, that is, downto the vertical. The le are connected by the link 9 to the sliding i arh. This sliding bar is connected at the front with a con ling head a onwhich are pivoted the two be 1 crank-like These latch hooks were lefttail engaging the lug j on the bottom of the bar In, which extends fromthe front cross channela to the first intermediate channel of thetrailer frame (Fig. 1; compare also Fig. 11). This backward movement ofthe sliding bar It permits the two latch hooks which are connected bythe shaft m (Fig. 10) to drop down into the dotted line position shownin Fig. 9. The bill of the latch hook is inclined so that when the lockbar '11., shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9. strikes the inclined bill itthrows the swinging latch upwardly and passes under it and into the lletof .the latch which drops backupon t e lock bar There are two of theselock bars n (see 14). The are supported on theupstanding lugs o of t e.cap plate p in the center of the fi h wheel of the truck. This cap plate-p is shown in Fig. 3 and is the upper ca plate,

' by gravity. This is illustrated in Figfi. 1g.

while the lower cap plate g carries the prorod 71.. Thecouplin head isbridge the circular track t from front to back. Four spacing springs uare coiled about these rods and abut against the projecting lugs 1'.This arrangement gives the two center cap plates a floating. action withrespect to the larger circular track so that there may be a slight yieldand pla in the coupling of the trailer to the truc so as to absorb theshocks.

When we left the truck and trailer, the hooks had dropped over thelockingbar end, but the supporting legs are still in their uprightposition, having swung down to the vertical. Now, it is desirable toautomatically lift these legs out of the way and provide an automaticrelease for the brake when the operation of coupling the truck andtrailer is. complete. In the normal cycle of operation, the brakes areretained in set position at the end of the uncoupling operation by meansof a lever w; consequently, it is not necessary under normal conditionsto operate the brakes again before couplin But, in case it is desired tomove the etached trailer about without the aid ofthe truck, the brakesmay be released manually. Of course, it will then be necessary to setthe brakes by hand before the truck is backed into the trailer. Themeans for releasing the brakes manually under these conditionsdigression and describe the coupling head and the sliding element whichserves to perform a number of the automatic operations such as liftingthe supporting legs and drawing them down into a vertical position,releasing the brake, and some of the other operations. This couplinghead is detailed in Fig. 4. The sliding element is the a two-part membercomprising the pin-holding casting a and the hook-carrying-casting 1. Anabutment collar 2, is pinned to the sliding element h, and a coiledspring 3 yieldingly spaces the latch hook-carrying casting 1, andyieldingly forces it against the pin-holding cast-- ving z. The latteris pinned to the end of the sliding bar It. Secured to the pin holdingcasting z of the coupling head is a lever 4, adapted to abut against thelower end of the tapered locking pin 5, when raised. A. locking bar 6extends from the front cross channel bar to the first intermediate crosschannel bar of the trailer frame (see also Fig. 1). This hasanelongatedslot 7, in its forward end and a small opening to the rear of this.

When the supporting legs f are in their extreme forward position such asshown in Fig. 2, the pin 5 rests in the forward end of this Slot 7. Thelength of the slot permits the movement already referred to andillustrated in Fig. 9, where the legs drop the, forward inclinedposition tothe vertical position for the purpose of positioning thelatch hooks. In the condition that we left the trailer and truck, thelatch "hooks had engaged with the lock bar and the trailer and truckwere coupled together, but the support- 'are locked against thismovement head of the trailer,

I arm of the lever is raised.

the locking ing legs had not been drawn up nor the brakes-released. Thiscan only be efi'ected by the travel of the sliding element, couplinghead and truck backwardly with respect to the trailer while the trailerremains stationary. But, as we have already seen, these parts of the pin5 (Fig. 4). being at this time located in the slot 7. However, the fifthwheel of the truck being coupled up 'with the coupling by reason of thelatch hooks engaging over the lock bar that is carried by the fifthwheel, the stud 10 is directly under the lever 4. This stud 10 passesthrough the center of the fifth wheel. lower end is enlarged and'slottedas at 11, and this slot is connected with a lever 12 of the bell cranktype, which is connected by the rod 13 with the drivers cab, not shown.By pulling forward on this rod 13, the lower This raises the stud 10 andthe lever 4:, which encounters the lower end of the tapered locking pinand thrusts it up against the force of the sprin 1 1. The upper edges ofboth the holes I and 8 in the lock bar are beveled off as shown in Fig.4. This lever 4 rises to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, andlifts the pin to the dotted line 4, but bear in mind the whole couplinghead and pin are now in the elongated slot 7 This releases the slidingelements of the trailer, to wit: the coupling head and the sliding bar,so that they are free now to move relatively backward with respect tothe trailer to accomplish the results now to be described.

The driver of'the' truck now backs up the truck slightly. The trucktogether with the sliding elements on the trailer move'back wardly. Thetapered end-of the locking pin in connection with the beveled edge ofthe slots serving to cause the locking pin to climb out of the slot. Theparts continue their relative movement along locking bar until theopening 8 of the locking bar is reached by this opening, the helicalspring 14 causes it to shoot into this opening. If this were toimmediately' li'kelyshear. but thisis nicely takenrare 'of bythe inertiaresisting arrangemei talforded byreason Its.

position shown in Fig.

trailer bein pin 5. When'it registers with arrest the-truck, the ;pinwould the coupling hooks" on the casting 1. The

consequence is that the coil springS allows these two parts of thecoupling head to separate slightly so that the inertia of the truck maybe stopped by the spring 3 in a gradual fashion rather than by beingsuddenly arrested by the pin 5. In short, this constitutes a nicelyarranged spring butter in the coupler to prevent the shearing of the pin5. v

This relative movement of the sliding elements on the traileraccomplishes these results: it forces the sliding'bar h to the rear.Refer to Fig. 3. The sliding bar is connected by the link 9 with thesupporting legs f. This connection is made as close to the fulcrum ofthe legs as possible so that a minimum amount of travel of the bar itwill be required to swing the legs up to their folded position, such asshown in Fig. 13. This is one result. The second result is that thesliding bar it releases the brakes, it being remembered that these wereset manually by the lever to the trailer. Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and15, the brake rod a connecting the'brakes with the lever 'w is dividedinto front and rear sec- ,tions arranged to be connected by a toothedbeforethe truck was backed under portion 15 on the rear sectionnormallyenand lift the projection 15 upwardly out of engagement with thetoothed portion 15 (see Fig. 6), thereb disconnecting the brake rodsections. By this time a brake control cam 40 on the sl'idable rod H(see 1 5) will have moved into its rearmost position out of operativeengagement with an arm 25 on the brake rock shaft 26. The spring 18immediately forces the brake rod forwardly which releases the brakes,the'truck and I v b at this time coupled together and ready for combinedoperation." I r A third resu'ltfaccomplished bythe backward slidingmovement of the sliding elements of the trailer is todi'sengage'theroll- On the stationary bar k ers; c. from the vtracks soas togive a' slight clearance to provide a free movement of the vrollers 19 (Fig. 8) on the fifth wheel track t.

shafts n (Fig-Q 11 4) Secured to the inside of f These rollersltl arenearthe ends of the lock adapted to straddle the rollers 21 on: thejextreme ends of the lock bars n. Q

l/Vh en thcse sliding elements reach therea r' YA,

of their movement these rollers strike the inclined face 22 (Fig. 3) ofthis U bracket and this serves to raise the trailer frame just slightlywith respect to'the truck. This lifts the rollers off the track justsufliciently as shownin Fig. 8 so as to clear the same. The

' ment 23, which is adapted to strike the shoultinue on were it not forthis brake.

der 24 on the coupling head 1 in case the truck is suddenly slowed orstopped or the trailer suddenly accelerated, the spring .3 permittingthis override action. This is a very useful function in stopping, asthen of course the application of the brakes to the truck leaves thetrailer perfectly free to con- This override braking arrangement henceprovides suitable brakes to stop the trailer coincidently with theapplication of the brakes to the truck. i

We now turn to the uncoupling of the truck from the trailer. The truckdriver pulls on the rod 13 (Fig. 4). This raises the stud 10, the lever4, and in turn raises the locking pin 5 to its uppermost position shownin the dotted lines of this figure. The dr'ver then starts the truckforward, which ulls the coupling head and bar it forwardly. In suchmovement the lug 17 permits the ,for-

- ward section of the brake rod u to fall down into engagement with theforwardly inclined teeth on the part 15, and shortly thereafter theforward end of a cam 40 (see Fig. carried by the rod It strikes an armon'the brake rock shaft 26 thereby moving the rear section of the brakerod u rearwardly while the forward section remains in its set position.Thus, the brakes will be set automatically during the initial movementof the head during uncoupling, and further movement of the head willcarry the cam forwardly so that its rear end will pass out of engagementwith the arm 25. 'When this occurs the lever w acting through the part15 and the segment '15 will become effective to hold the brakes in theset position into which the cam 40 has moved them. It will be rememberedthat the lever 10 was moved into or retained in brake setting positionprior to the coupling of the truck and'trailer and that this levertogether with the forward section of the brake rodu has been retained inbrake setting position by the p awl and rack y and m.

during normal coupling and uncoupling operations. If it is now desiredto release the brakes so as to permit the detached trailer to be movedabout without the aid of the truck, the lever w which isnow acting tohold the brake set may be released manually.

The sliding elements, to wit: the sliding bar h and the coupling head onthe trailer, now moveforward relatively with respect to the trailerwhich remains stationary. The lock pin 5 by reason of its tapered lowerend, climbs out of the hole 8 and rides alongthe locking bar until itdrops in the elongated slot 7 in the bar (Fig. 4). In making thisrelative travel forward, the sliding elements accomplish severalresults. One result is to automatically uncouple the latch hooks fromthe lock bar,-in short, uncouple the trailer from the truck. Referringto Fig. 9, it will be seen how this is accomplished. As

the hooks move forward with the slidingcoupling head the tails 27 strikethe lu on the bar is (see also Fig. 11); this kic s the hooks up asshown in the full lines in Fig. 9, thereby permitting the locking bars nto draw away. A second result accomplished by the relative travel of thesliding elements forward on the trailer is to pull the legs down.-wardly, as these are directly tied to the sliding bar 71. by the links9.

By comparing the different parts in Fig. 9,

it will be apparent that the hooks are not kicked off the locking barsuntil the legs have gone beyond a perpendicular position. It is only inthe final travel from the perpendicular position to the slightlyinclined forward final position that the hooks are thrown from thelocking bars. This travel takes place by reason of the elongated slot 7(see Fig. 4), that is,the pin 5 drops into the rear of this slot and,hence absolutely prevents the legs from folding up before the hooks arekicked off the lock-bars. This absolutely prevents any accident as forinstance, the legs dropping back or folding up slightly so that, whenthe truck draws away from the tractor, the forward end of the trailerwould fall. This cannot happen, as it is only by the slight amount ofmovement allowed by the elongated slot that the hooks are kicked off. Tofurther prevent any accidental throwing of the hooks by any other force,it will be seen-fromreferring to Fig. 11 that one of the hooks isprovided with an upwardly projecting lug 29. This is adapted to ridealong the underside of the bar I; so that these hooks can only bereleased when they are in their forward position opposite the slot 30,in the bar In.

Oftentimes it is desirable to back the truck and trailer. However, thiswould always apply the override brake except for the arrangement I haveprovided for blocking off the override brake on these occasions. Theoperator of the car need simply thrust back on the rod 13. This carriesthe lever 12, (Fig. 4) to the lowermost position shown in this figure.This pulls down the stud 10, which has a col- 1M 31, which engages thetail 32 oft-he lever 33 and throws this lever up against the under sideof the lock bars 6, so that the same is in with respect to the outerwheel and consequently not enough movement so that the or rear position.

shoulder 24 can strike the abutment 23 brake rod to apply the brakes.

A feature of this trailer and truck to which I desire to call attention"is that there is no draft through the coupling device that is op-;erated from the cab and which looks the sliding elements of the trailerin either forward The draft is entirely through the locking member-onthe truck and the latching hooks on the trailer, and these areautomatically controlled by the relative movement of the sliding partsof the trailer with respect to the trailer itself.

I claim as my invention:

'1. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truckprovidedwith inclinedtracks at the back, a semi-trailer frame, rollerssupported on the trailer frame adapted to run up the tracks, lock barson the truck having rollers at the ends, and U brackets depending fromthe trailer frame arranged to engage the rollers on the ends of thelocking bars to slightly raise the trailer with respect to the truckwhen the truck backs clear into the trailer for the purpose of causingthe rollers to clear the track.

2. In atruckandasemi-trailer,thecombination of a truck provided with alocking member, a trailer frame, a sliding reach and a slidable couplingconnected together and supported on the trailer frame, the latterprovided with means for engaging the locking member, a swingingsupporting element supported by the trailer frame, and a connectionbetween the supporting unit and the sliding reach connecting with thesupporting unit relatively close to the fulcrum.

3. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a locking member, a trailer frame, a sliding coupling head providedwith a latching member adapted to engage the locking member on thetruck, a sliding reach connectedwith the coupling member, a swingingsupporting unit pivoted on the trailer frame, a sliding member slidablein the trailer frame and connected with the lower end of the supportingunit to actas a tension member, and a connecting link between thesliding reach and the supporting unit near its fulcrum.

4:. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a locking member, a semi-trailer frame provided with a latchingmember adapted to engage the locking member on the truck but which isleft. out of thepath of the locking member when the truck is uncoupledfrom the trailer, and means automatically operated for throwing thelatch on the when the truck hacks into the trailer,

ed on the trailer frame and connected with theof the path of the lockingmember when the truck is uncoupled from the trailer, and meansautomatically operated for throwing the latch back into the path of thelocking member the trailer operating by means of the truck lifting thetrailer.

6. In a truck anda semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a locking member, a trailer frame provided with a stop, a latchingmember on the trailer frame ordinarily left in a raised position out ofthe path of the locking member when the truck is uncoupled from thetrailer, a sliding element in a swinging supporting unit pivotslidingelement, the said swinging supporting element when in a supportingposition being somewhat forward of a vertical position, the

said latching member being held in its raised position by abuttingagainst the stop and being also connected with the sliding elementwhereby when the truck backs into the trailer and raises the trailer,the swinging supporting element swings to the vertical, pulls thesliding element and the latch out of engagement with the stop andpermits the latch to dropinto the path of the locking member of thetruck. I l 7. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truckprovided with a locking member, a trailer frame, a swinging gravitylatch in the form of a hook having an inclined face bill, said hookarranged to slide on the trailer, a stop by which said hook is kicked upto its release position, a swinging supporting member occupying aposition somewhatlnclined to the vertical forward of a vertical linethrough its fulcrum when the same is acting as a support for the trailerframe, and connections between said swingingsupporting member and theslidingly mounted hook whereby when the truck drives under the trailerand raises the same the supporting unit swings to the vertical and drawsthe hook away from the stop and allows the same to fall into the pathoft-he oncoming locking member.

8. In a truck and semi-trailer, the combination of a truck provided witha locking member, a trailer frame, and a two-part couplingmemberprovided with means for engaging the locking member, the two-partcoupling member having the parts yieldably separable, and means forarresting one of the coupling members in a sliding movement that bothhave zwith respect to the trailer frame whereby the other part of thecoupling member its yielding separating action mav absorb the inertiashock in arresting the relative movement.

9. In a truck and semi-trailer, the combination of a truck provided witha locking memher, a trailer frame, a two-part slidable coupling havin arelative sliding movement on the trailer rame, one of the parts providedwithmeans for coupling onto the locking member of the truck, a yieldableconnection between the two parts, the other parts provided with alocking pin, and means for arresting the locking pin whereby thearresting of the locking pin part of the coupling permits the other partof the coupling to sepa-' rate slightly and absorb the inertia shock inarresting the relative movement of the coupling with respect to thetrailer.

10. In a truck and semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a locking member, a trailer frame, a locking bar provided with anopening therein, a two-part coupling slidable along the locking bar, the

two parts being held together by a spring, a locking pin on the forwardpart of the couplinghead and a latching member secured on the rear partof the coupling head, said locking pin dropping into the opening in thelocking bar when it registers therewith while the inertia of the truckand the other part of the coupling is absorbed by the springswhen the"yielding separation takes place between the two coupler parts when theshooting of the pin into the hole arrests one part of the couler.

11. In a truck and semi-trailer, the combination of a trailer frame, alocking bar supported thereon with an opening at the rear and anelongated opening .in the front, a sliding coupling head slidable withrespect to the trailer frame, a supporting unit raised or lowered by thesliding action of the coupler, the coupler provided with a latchingmember arranged to be automatically released as the sliding couplernears the completion of itsforward relative movement with respect tothetrailer frame, and a locking pin on the coupler arranged to engage inthe rear opening of the lock bar'to hold the supporting unit in itsinoperative position and dropping into the'elongated slot to lock thesupporting unit in its operative position but permitting slight furtherrelative movement .forward for the purpose of permitting the latchingmember to be automatically disengaged.

12. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a trailerframe, acoupler head slidable thereon provided with. a latching hook having atail on one end, and a trip plug on the trailer frame for engaging thetail of the latch hook to throw the same for automatically releasing thehook when the'coupler travels forward with respect to 'the trailer.

13'. In a truck and a semi-trailer, thg comward but no movementbackward, a trip on the trailer, said latch member striking the trip tothrow the latching member to a releasin osit-ion-after the forwardposition of the 100 mg means sets the coupler against any backwardmovement but permits motion forward, and a supporting unit raised andlow ered by the relative movement of the coupler head, locked in itsupright position when the forward position of the locking means locksagainst backard sliding movement of the coupler.

14. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith'a fifth wheel carrying a locking member, atrailer frame, a couplerhead slidable thereon, to effect certain operations, a locking elementon the trailer frame, said coupler provided with a latching memberarranged to engage the locking element in the forward and rear ends ofits sliding movement, and a control member running up through the'fifthWheel on the truck for disengaging the interlock between the couplerhead and the locking element on the trailer.

15. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a fifth wheel, a trailer frame, a coupler head slidablelongitudinally on the trailer frame to perform certain automaticoperations, a locking bar provided with two openings for locking thecoupler head at the-forward and rear end of its movement, a locking pinfor engaging in said openings, and a control mcm-.

wheel, a trailer frame, a locking bar-provided with two openings, aslidable coupler head whose sliding movement serves to perform certainautomatic operations, a pin in the coupling head for en aging in theopenings to lock the coupling l xead in the forwarder rear end of itsmovement, a lever on the coupling head, and a stud operating through thecenter of thefifth wheel which may engage the lever Which'is therebyswung to disengage the pin from the opening in the locking bar. a

17. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a' truck providedwith a fifth wheel, a trailer, a sliding coupler head whose slidingmovement controls certain automatic operations, means for locking thesame at the forward or rear end ofits movement, overlride brakemechanism on the trailer frame automatically operated when the trailermoves forward with respect to the truck, means for blocking suchoverridingaction to prevent the action of the override brake, and meanspassing up through the fifth wheel of the truck WlllCh may be used bothtov disengage the locking means of the coupler head or optionally tothrow in the blocking mechanism to prevent the operation of the overridebrake. I

18. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a fifth wheel, a trailer frame, a sliding coupling head slidable onthe trailer frame to perform certain automatic operations. means forlocking the same at the rear and front of its movement, an overridebrake mechanism on the trailer operated to apply the brakes when thetrailer overrides the truck, a stop supported on the trailer, a levercarried by the coupler head, and means passing up through the fifthwheel of the truck which may be optionally operated to disengage thelocking 1 means of the coupler head or throw the lever into the path ofthe stop to block the overriding of the trailer on the truck and thusprevent the operation of the overriding brake.

19. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a fifth "wheel, a trailer frame, a slidable coupling head movablelongitudinally of the trailer frame to perform certain autoniaticoperations, a locking bar provided with a pair of openings and alongwhich the coupler head moves, a locking pin carried by the coupler headand adapted'to drop into said openings,

a stop-on the locking bar, a lever on the coupler, and a stud running upthrough .the cen-. ter of the fifth wheel which may be raised todisengage the lockin'g'pin from the locking bar opening and may belowered to throw the lever into the pathof the stop, and a overridingbrake mechanism operated by the overriding of the trailer frame on thetruck, said brake being blocked whenthe said lever is thrown up into thepath of the stop to prevent overriding.

20. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a fifth Wheel, a trailer having a yieldable connection through suchfifth wheel of the truck, .override brake mechanism operated by saidtrailer moving forwardon such yiel'dable, connection with respect to thetruck, means for blocking such overriding action, and a con trol devicetherefor running through the cenride brake mechanism on thetrailer, astop member on the trailer, a lever pivoted on the .of its movement.into the trailer.

trailer which can be thrown into the path of the stop to preventoverriding action of the traileron the truck, and a stud passingengagement between them, and means actu-, ated in the final movement ofthe'truck during coupling to break the connection between said parts. i

in combination, a

23. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck, a trailerwhich is coupled with the truck when the truck backs into the trailer,brake mechanism on the trailer iiieluding two brakeirod portions.connected by a toothed segment and a toothed engagement, and meansoperated. at the finish of the movement of the truck into the trailerfor throwing the tooth out of the toothed segment to release the brakes.

24:. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck, atrailerthat is coupled to the truck when the truck backs into the trailer,brake mechanism on the trailer including a severable connection, and asliding member on the trailer operated by the'move: ment of the truckbackward intmthe trailer for disengaging said severable connection torelease the brakes as the truck reaches the end 25. In a truck and asemi-trailer, the com-- bination of a truck, a trailer which is coupledwith the truck when the truck backs into the same, brake mechanism onthe trailer includ ing a severable rod in two parts, one part of whichruns through a lever with an eye, and i a sliding member operated withthe movement of the truck and located on the trailer adapted to engageunder the lever to -lift the same and break the severable connection torelease the brakes.

26. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a locking member, a trailer frame, a coupling head having .asliding movement along the trailer frame to perform certain automaticoperations, saidcounler head provided with a latching member engagingwith the lockingmenr her on the truck to couple it together, and

means for automatically disengaging the' latching member from thelockingmember when the coupling head approaches thetex-.

treme front of its movement.

27. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck provided awith a locking member, a trailer frame, a sliding coupling head on thetrailer frame which performs certain automatic operations by its slidingmovement, a latching member on the coupler head in the form of abell-crank hook, and'a trip lug supported by the trailer frame, adaptedto engage the tail of the bell crank hook when the coupling head nearsthe forward end of its slide to release the book from the locking memberon the truck.

28. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck providedwith a locking member, a trailer frame, a sliding Coupling head on thetrailer frame whose sliding movement performs certain operations, alatching member on the coupling head engaging the locking member andautomatically released when it reaches the front of the end of thesliding movement of the coupling, and means latch from the lockingmember.

30. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination "of a truck providedwith a locking member, a trailer, a coupling head slidable on thetrailer to perform certain operations, a latching member carried on thecoupler head, a bar supported by the trailer frame along the vpath ofmovement of the latch, and a trip supported by the bar to disengage thelatch from the locking member, said bar serving to hold the latch inengagement with the locking member until the latch reaches the forwardend of its travel on the coupling head, the bar being provided at thispoint with an opening to allow the latch to release itself from thelocking member. a v

31.-In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck, a trailerwhich may be coupled with the truck'when the truck backs into thetrailer, having sliding-elements arranged to automatically uncouple thedraft connections when the lock on these sliding elements is released,brakes on the trailer, and means for first automatically setting t-hebrakes when the truck drives forward with respect to the trailerpreliminary to automatically uncoupling the draft connections.

32. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the com- .bination of a truck, atrailer which may be coupled with the truck when the truck drives intothe trailer and provided with sliding elements including the couplinghead on the trailer for performing certain operations and for uncouplingthe draft connections between the trailer and the truck at the forwardend of the sliding movement of the coupling head, a brake on thetrailer, and means whereby the movement forward of the sliding elementson the trailer first automatically sets .the brakes to permit theuncoupling of the draft connections. a

33. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck, a trailercoupled to the truck when the truck backs into the trailer, a slidingcoupling head on the trailer slidable to perform certain operations,means for locking the sliding coupler head at the forward end of itssliding movement, a brake on the trailer, and means tripped by thesliding elements on-the trailer to apply the brake when the slidingelements move forward, the said movement forward of the sliding elementsserving to first set said brakes and then to automatically uncouple thedraft connections between the trailer and the truck at the forward endof the sliding movement.

34. In a truck and a semi-trailer, the combination of a truck, atrailer, a coupling member provided with two parts which have relativemovement and which are connected one to the truck and one to thetrailer, an override brake in the trailer arranged to engage against thecoupling part attached to the truck when the trailer tends to overridethe truck whereby the coupling parts separate and apply the brakes.

35. In a combined vehicle of the character described, comprising a truckand a trailer, the combination of trailer brakes, brake controllingmeans, mechanism for coupling the truck and trailer together including amember mounted on the trailer and movable in opposite directions uponrelative movement between the truck and trailer during coupling anduncoupling, and means to lock said coupling mechanism in coupledposition, said member being arranged to control the operation of saidlocking means and said brake controlling means approximately atthecompletion of the movement of said member in one direction whereby torelease said brakes described, comprising a truck and a trailer,

the combination of coupling mechanism including an element mounted onthe trailer to move back and forth during coupling and uncoupling of thetruck and trailer, means operable to lock said element in the trailerframe at the completion of it's coupling stroke, brakes for the trailer,manually operable brake-setting means, and trip means arranged to beactuated by said element approximately simultaneously with the operationof said locking means thereby rendering said brakesetting meansineffectual as a means for holding the brakes in set position.

37. In a combined vehicle of the character described, comprising a truckand trailer,

the combination of trailer-brakecontrolling lif- ' element to thetrailer in the operation of coupling and uncoupling the truck andtrailer, means controlled by said element for automatically locking saidapproximately at one end of the movement of said element,and means foractuating said trailer-brake-controlling means to release the brakesapproximately simultaneously with the operation of said locking means.

38. In a combined vehicle of the character described, comprising a truckand a trailer, the combination of an element mounted on the trailer tobe moved back and forth during the operation of coupling and uncouplingthe truck and trailer, brakes for the trailer, manually operable meansby which said brakes may be set, and means automatically operable bysaid element for rendering said manually operable means inefl'ectual andthereby releasing the brakes approximately atone end of the movement ofsaid element.

39. A combined vtruck and trailer vehicle of the character describedcomprising, in combination, trailerbrakes, brake-operating mechanism bywhich the brakes may be set, an element on the trailer arranged to beautomatically moved in the operation of coupling or uncoupling the truckand trailer, and means automaticallyvoperable in the movement of saidelementfor acting on said brakeoperating mechanism to permit one portionof said brake-operating mechanism to move the brake-releasing positionwithout afi'ecting the brake-setting position of the other portion ofsaid operating mechanism.

40. The combination with a truck and a trailer, of brakes forthetrailer, operating means therefor, means providing an operativeconnection between said brakes and operating means, a trip deviceoperable to -break said connection to release said brakes,

and means rendered active by relative movement between the truck andtrailer during coupling to operate said trip device.

41. The combination with a trailer and a truck adapted to be coupledtogether for combined operation, of brakes for the trailer, manuallyoperable-means for setting said brakes, a device mounted on the trailerto move in opposite directions during couplin and uncoupling, and meansactuated by said device near one end of its movement for rendering saidsetting means inefl'ectual.

42. The combination with a truck and trailer, of brakes for the trailer,means for setting said brakes and retaining them in set position duringcoupling of the truck and trailer, and means controlled by relativemovement between the truck and trailer during coupling to render saidsetting means ineffectual.

43. The combination with a truck and trailer arranged to be coup edtogether for combined operation, of brake means for, the trailer,manually controlled means adaptedto set said brake means and hold it inset position,

and means operable automatically upon coupling of the truck and trailerfor releasing said brake means while said setting means remains inactive position.

44. The combination with a trailer, of brakes therefor, brake controlmechanism, means arrangedito act on said mechanism to release saidbrakes automatically, and manually operable means for setting saidbrakes and simultaneously conditioning said mechanism for automaticoperation thereof by said releasing means, said setting means serving tohold said brakes in set position until the operation of said releasingmeans.

45. A vehicle having, in combination, a trailer, a truck adap-t-edto beconnected to the trailer, a brake for the trailer, means for holdingsaid brake in set position during during coupling of the .truck andtrailer, means providing an operative connection between said brake andsaid holding means including a clutch device having two interengageableparts, and means operated by relative movement between the truck andtrailer to disengage said parts thereby breaking the connection betweenthe brakes and said holding means.

46. In a combined vehicle of the character described comprising a truckand a trailer, the combination of a device to be operated, manuallycontrolled operating means normally having a mechanical connection withsaid device for operating the same, a member mounted to slide back andforth on the trailer and arranged to be actuated as the tractor movesrelative to the trailer in the operation of coupling to the trailer, and

.means operated by said member during its coupling stroke to break theconnection between said device and said operating means whereby topermit operation of the said de+ vice independently of said manuallyconwhich is shiftable forward and back along the trailer, and means topermit the openingv of the coupling means at the forward end of itsshifting movement and for closing the coupling means as the latter movesrearwardly from its forward position.

49. The combination of a tractor having a coupling element at its rearend, a semi-trailer having coupling means mounted on its forward portionand arranged to be slid forwardly and rearwardly by the tractor, meansfor locking the coupling means in its rear position, and means forholding the coupling means closed in any position other than its forwardposition and for permitting opening of the coupling mean-s'when in itsforward position and allowing escape therefrom of said coupling elementon the tractor.

50. The combination of a tractor having a coupling element at its rearend, a semitrailer, coupling means movably mounted on the forwardportion of the semi-trailer and arranged to engage said element on thetractor and be moved forwardand back thereby, means. for locking saidcoupling means in its rearmost position, means for locking said couplinmeans in its foremost position, and means or holding said coupling meansin operative condition except when in its foremost position and forpermitting movement of the said coupling means when in its foremostposition to allow escape of said coupling element therefrom, the saidmeans for locking said coupling means in its foremost position operatingautomatically to effect a lock and being operable to release the lockeffect and permit rearward travel of the coupling means when the tractorbacks under the trailer.

51. A combined vehicle of'the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, a carriage slidably mounted on theforward end of the trailer, a coupling member on the tractor, means onsaid carriage for engaging said coupling member whereby said carriagewill be pulled forward by the tractor in uncoupling from the trailer,and means operating automatically near the end of the uncouplingoperation to free said coupling member.

52. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, a movable member on the trailer forsupporting the forward end of the trailer when detached from thetractor, a movable element on the trailer operatively associated withsaid support, two coupling devices one carried by the tractor and theother by said element, said devices being arranged for engagement as thetractor is backed under the trailer whereby to connect said element tothe tractor and for disengagement automatically when said member reachesits forward limit of travel during uncoupling of the tractor andtrailer, and means to hold said element against movement on the trailerduring combined operation of the tractor and trailer.

53. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, a carria e mounted on the trailer tomove back and orth during coupling and uncoupling respectively, andcoupling means on said carriage operable automatically during couplingand uncoupling respectively to connect and disconnect said tractor andsaid carriage.

'54. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, an' element movably mounted on thetrailer, means providing a connection between said element and thetractor while the tractor is being uncoupled from the trailer, the powerof the tractor being thereby applied positively to actuate said element,and means operating automatically near the end of the uncouplingoperation for rendering said connecting means ineifective.

55. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, an element movably mounted on thetrailer and arranged to be connected to the tractor, means operating tomaintain a connection between the tractor and said element while thetractor is being detached from the trailer and then to disconnectthetractor and said .element automatically near the end of the detachingoperation.

56. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, an element movably mounted on thetrailer, means for connecting said element and the tractor so that theelement will be moved by the tractor while the tractor is being detachedfrom the trailer, and means operating on said connecting means tomaintain the connection between the tractor and said element during themajor portion of the uncoupling operation and to automatically releasesaid connecting means.

57. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, an element movably mounted on thetrailer, a support for thetrailer operatively associated with saidelement, means for connecting said element to the tractor, and cam meansacting on said connecting means during uncoupling of the tractor andtrailer to maintain an engagement between said element and the tractoruntil said support has been moved into active position and thento'render said connecting means ineffective.

58. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, an element movably mounted on thetrailer, a membercarried by the trailer and operatively associated withsaid element, said member being arranged to be moved into a position tosupport the trailer when detached from the tractor, means to connectsaid element to the tractor whereby the power of tively to move saidmember into supporting position, and means operating automatically aftersaid member has reached its supporting. position to release saidconnecting means the tractor will be applied posi-' thereby freeing saidtractor from said element.

59. A combined vehicle of the character described comprising, incombination, a tractor, a trailer, coupling mechanism through which thetractive force of the tractor is applied to the trailer for drawing thepart on the tractor near the beginning of the coupling operation andautomatically disconnected therefrom near the end of the uncouplingoperation, a second locking means by which the head is rigidly connectedto the trailer frame at the end of its coupling stroke, a land-engagingmember for supporting the forward endof said member being mounted on thetrailer and movable between supporting and non-supporting positions, andconnecting means between said head and said member operable to pull saidmember into active position in the movement of said I head during itsuncoupling stroke.

.tractor and trailer,

60. A combined vehicle ofthe character described comprising, incombination, a.

tractor, a trailer, a head mounted, on the trailer to move rearwardlyduring coupling and forwardly during uncoupling of. the a movablesupporting member on the trailer operatively associated with said headso as to be moved out of and into land-engaging position during thecoupling and uncoupling strokes of said head re-' spectively,inter-engageable coupling devices one on the tractor and the otheron'said head adapted to provide a rigid connection between the tractorand the head, stationary cam means on the trailer operable in the.

movement of said head to ment between said devices pling stroke of saidhead until said member has een moved into supporting position and thento permit disengagement of said devices whereby to free the tractorfrom-the trailer, and means for locking said head in its rearmost orcoupled position.

61. In a combined vehicle of the character described comprising atractor and a trailer, a couphng mechanism comprising, in combination, acoupling device on the tractor, a con ling device movably mounted on thetrai er and adapted for engagement with said tractor coupling device,means for actuating saidtrailer coupling device automatically to causeit to engage and disengage said tractor device at the beginning of thecoupling operation and at the end of theuncoupling operationrespectively including a head operatlvely connected with said trailercoupling device and adapted-to be reciprocated back apd forth maintainengageduring the uncouthe trailer when detached from the tractor,

on the trailer as the tractor moves'toward and away from the trailerduring coupling and uncoupling and insuch reciprocation to actuate saidtrailer coupling device and locking means operable to hold said head inits rearward or coupled position so that the tractive force of thetractor may be applied to the trailer through the medium of saidcoupling devices and said head.

62. The combination with a tractor and a semi-trailer arranged forautomatic connec tion and disconnection, of brakes for the semitrailer,a brake operating element on the trailer, a separate movable elementwhich is movable into and out of cooperating relation with the brakeoperating element, and a trip device arranged for engagement with themovable element which eflects movement of said element upon relativemovement of the tractor and trailer in the action of'disconnecting, sothat the movable element engages the said brake operating element tohold the brakes applied independently of the trip device, while thetractor and semi-trailer remain disconnected.

63. The combination with a tractor and a semi-trailer arranged forautomatic connection and disconnection, of brakes for the semitrailer,brake operating mechanism including two parts, one of which is connectedto the brakes and the second of which is separate from the first andmovable into and out of holding position as re ards the first part, andmeans for moving the said second part into and out of holding positionupon relative movement between the truck and trailer as they disconnectand connect respectively, whereby the brakes are held applied while thesemi-trailer 'is disconnected and released when the semi-trailer isconnected to the tractor. I

64. The combination with a tractor and a semi-trailer arranged forautomatic connection and disconnection, of brakes for the semitrailer,brake operating mechanism including two parts, one of which is connectedto the brakes and the second of which is separate from the first andmovable into and out of holding position as regards the first part, atrip device arranged for contact with the second part for effectingmovement of the said second part into holding position as regards thefirst part upon relative movement between the tractor and trailer duringthe disconnecting action to hold the brakes applied While thesemi-trailer is disconnected from the tractor.

65. The combination with a tractor and a semi-trailer arranged forautomatic connectionand disconnection, of brakes for the semitrailer,brake operating mechanism including two parts, one of which is connectedto the brakes and the second of which is separate from the first andmovable into and out of holding position as regards the first part,

a trip device arranged to contact With the second part for eflz'ectlngmovement of the said second part into holding position as regards thefirst part upon relative movement be- 5 tween the tractor and trailerduring the disconnecting action to hold the brakes applied while thesemi-trailer is disconnected from the tractor, said movable part beingmovable to non-holding position upon relative movement between thetractor and trailer during connection.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CHARLES H. LAND, J R.

